title: Unexpected recovery of functional communication following a prolonged period of mutism post-head injury.
abstract: A case is presented of a seven-year-old female who showed an unexpected recovery of functional communication skills following a prolonged period of traumatic mutism subsequent to a severe closed head injury. The patient initially presented as comatose. A period of mutism subsequent to the coma extended for ten months. Following this protracted period of mutism the child demonstrated rapid and unexpected recovery of functional communication skills, despite the persistence of higher level language deficits. The findings of a neurological assessment, neuroradiological assessment and battery of speech/language tests are described. The present case is discussed in light of the existing literature on recovery from paediatric head trauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Hearing, University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Murdoch
mesh_terms: D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009155:Mutism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014705:Verbal Behavior